CABL Forum - Ou #1

- At this point, Oklahoma fans can't help but take it for granted.
Sooners magic on the big screen

Nearly 1,000 fans packed three theaters at the new Bricktown Harkins 16 cinema Saturday morning, watching the OU/Texas game on giant screens and cheering as loudly as if they were at the game.

"My father-in-law filled out a form and won four free tickets for here," said Wayne Wright of Piedmont. "They were free, and we thought the big screen would be a unique way to watch the game this year. ... It's real neat."

Nicole Brown of Oklahoma City said she used the game as an excuse to enjoy "the whole Bricktown experience" -- getting a hotel room downtown and taking her son and his best friend on a fun weekend.

"I've never seen a game on a screen this big," she said before kickoff. "I imagine it's going to look like they're coming right at you."

Eric McCarthy, manager of business development for the Arizona-based theater company, said he was impressed by the turnout and the fans' enthusiasm.

"We did this as kind of a 'thank you' gift for everyone embracing us in Oklahoma," he said. "This is our first out-of-state site, and we wanted to show we appreciate it."

Most in attendance won tickets in radio and newspaper contests.

By Ken Raymond

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OU-Texas highlights
OU’s dominance of Texas continues
Tramel: What a Red River Shootout should be
Carlson: Peterson launched into Heisman contention
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Shutout confounds Benson, Brown
Today was Adrian Peterson's day
Perkins injures left knee
White happy with turning to run game
Replays add to enjoyment of TV viewing
The Undercover Fan: Sooners faithful jeer 'Horns
Unbeaten contenders down to 9
Keys to the game Snapshot Notes

"We beat them every year," said 13-year-old Toby Jones, hanging over the railing of the south end zone bleachers to display his handmade poster. "I don't know if we've ever lost to them. Have we?"

Yes, a time or two, Texas has indeed beaten Oklahoma. It just doesn't seem like it at the moment. Saturday, the second-ranked Sooners ran their winning streak over Texas to five straight games with a 12-0 blanking of the No. 5 Longhorns.

The run matches OU's second-longest run of victories over its border rival.

"This is ridiculous," said Texas fan Ben Latimer, 22, of Austin. "We're never going to admit that we know we can't beat OU, but we know. So, we'll just keep showing up until the streak's over. It can't last forever."

It seems like it already has for some fans on both sides.

Jordan Coles, a 10-year-old Sooner fan from Grapevine, Texas, has been coming to OU-Texas games since he was four.

"It's cool because we get to win all the time," said the tot.

Coles' step-father, Tim Harris, says youthful OU backers don't even realize this is a rivalry."They're a little spoiled," he said. "All they can remember is OU winning these games."

Which begs the question, might Sooner supporters become complacent?

"Are you kidding? This never gets old," said Brenda Perry, 32, of Oklahoma City.

That was the year OU began its ongoing ritual of beating Texas.

"I was here when OU beat us four straight from 1985-88, but this is different," said Bill Person, 54, of Houston. "We're grasping at straws now. We're proud that we played them tough. After last year (a 65-13 OU win) this seems like a win. Sort of."

OU's recent dominance has made some Texas fans a gentler, kinder sort.

Seth Ketterling celebrated his third birthday Saturday, taking in the game with dad, Aaron, and mom, Rachel. The Ketterlings are OU season ticket holders from Clovis, N.M. However, their OU-Texas tickets were purchased on the Internet and they ended up being squarely in the middle of the Texas section.

Despite being surrounded by burnt orange, the Ketterlings were treated just fine.

"Actually, the little kid is harassing me," said Texas diehard John James, 55, of Dallas, who was sitting a row in front of the three-year old. "Why not? He's holding all the cards."

Which is pretty much the way OU fans see it these days. Beating Texas is just what the Sooners do.

As for Jones, his sign pretty much said it all as far as OU fans are concerned - "ABC: And the Beating Continues."

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